Combined step-ladder, ironing-board, and clothes-rack.



J. WATT. COMBINED STEP LADDER, IRONING BOARD, AND CLOTHES RACK.

APPLIUA'HON FILED JAN. 2. 1909.

Patented Nov.2, 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

mafia. B. GRAHAM ca Pumo-umocmpuzas. WASHINGTON. n. c.

J. WATT.

COMBINED STEP LADDER, IRONING BOARD, AND CLOTHES RACK.

' APPLICATION FILED :nmz. 1909.

938,924. Patented Nov. 2, 1909.

s sums-$113M 2.

J. WATT. COMBINED STEP LADDER, IRONING BOARD, AND CLOTHES RACK. APPLIOATIOII FILED JAN. 2, 1909.

938,924. Patented Nov. 2, 1909.

3' SHEETS-SHEET 3.

29% human JOHN WATT, OF BALTIlVIORE, MTARYLAND.

COMBINED STEP-LADDER, IRONING-BOARD, AND CLOTHES-RACK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 2, 1909.

Application filed January 2, 1909. Serial No. 470,315.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN WATT, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Baltimore, State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combined Step-Ladders, Ironing-Boards, and Clothes-Racks; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it ap pertains to make and use the same.

The invention relates to combined step ladders, ironing boards and clothes racks.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a combined step ladder, ironing board and clothes rack which can be instantly transformed from an ironing board to a step ladder and a clothes rack or vice versa, which will be simple'in construction, the parts of which can be folded in a compact form when not in use, durable, thoroughly eflicient in operation and inexpensive in the manufacture.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which may be quickly arranged for use either as a step ladder, ironing board or clothes rack, means being provided whereby the parts will be securely held in place when adjusted for use for either purpose.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings which disclose the preferred form of embodiment of the invention that will enable those skilled in the art to clearly understand and practice the said invention and as brought out in the claims hereunto appended. However, it is to be understood that minor changes, variations and modifications may be made such as come properly within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of the invention ready for use as a step ladder. Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a side elevation showing the invention ready for use as an ironing board. Fig. t is a top plan view thereof. Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the invention ready for use as a clothes rack.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views in the drawings.

In the drawings the numeral 8 designates generally. a ladder section which comprises spaced side rails 9 which are of uniform width and thickness throughout their length and connected together by a series of steps 10 the latter being of the usual construction. Connected to one side of the ladder sect-ion 8 near the top thereof by hinges 11 is an ironing board 12 which is adapted to be swung a distance away from the ladder section so as to have its free end engage a floor or the ground thus insuring a firm support or prop for the ladder section when it is desired to be brought into use as a step lad der. Connected to one step 10 of the ladder section and to the inner face of the ironing board 12 is a flexible member 13 which latter limits the outward swinging movement of the ironing board with respect to the ladder section and thereby serves to hold the said ironing board in a proper position to support the ladder section at an inclination when arranged for use as a' ladder.

Formed in the side rails 9 of the ladder section 8 are elongated slots 14 which extend throughout a greater portion of the leng-tlr of the side rails and are adapted to receive swinging arms 15, the same being connected to the said side rails by hinges 16 so that the arms can be swung from within the slots to a substantially horizontal position for supp orting clothes to be dried. These arms 15 are held and braced in a horizontal position by hinged props 17 the free ends of which are adapted to be brought into engagement with sockets 18 formed in the side rails 9 so as to maintain the said arms in their adjusted position. To look the arms 15 when in a lowered position within the slots 14 there is provided pivoted catches 19 which are adapted to be swung to' a locked position across the slots and the arms within the same which will maintain them against accidental displacement.

Mounted near opposite ends of the ironing board 12 on its outer face are bearings 20 in which are journaled the cross connecting pieces 21 of substantially U-shaped legs 22 the same normally resting upon the ironing board when not in use. The legs 22 are provided with cross bars 28 and are adapted to be swung outwardly around the opposite ends of the ladder section 8 so as to engage the ladder section and support the same in a horizontal positionas well as the ironing board 12 thus enabling the latter to be used for ironing or pressing clothes. It is obvious that the cross braces or bars 23 of the legs 22 when swung in operative position engage the front longitudinal edges of the side rails of the ladder section and thereby forming a bearing or rest for the said section when supporting the same in a horizontal position. To enable the bars 23 to pass around the opposite ends of the ladder section the front cornersof said section are curved as at 2st and in this manner the said legs will be permitted to assume the position shown in Fig. 3 in the drawings.

Pivotally connected to one U-shaped leg 22 are catches 25 which are adapted to be brought into locked engagement with the other leg 22 when both are in normal position resting upon the ironing board and not in use as is the case when the structure is used as a step ladder. When the legs 22 are in a position to support the ladder section and the ironing board in superimposed position thereon, the said legs are locked by catch members such as pivoted hooks 26 carried by the said rails 9 which hooks engage eyes 27 carried by the legs.

Connected to the front longitudinal edges of the side rails 9 by hinges 28 are arms 29 the same adapted to be swung to a substantially horizontal position for supporting clothes to be dried and these arms 29 are held in this position by brace bars 30 hinged thereto, the same being adapted to have their free ends engage sockets 31 in the front edges of the side rails of the ladder section. To maintain the arms and their brace bars against movement when in lowered position there are provided pivoted strap members 32 the same carried by the side rails of the ladder section.

Hinged to one cross bar 23 of the leg section 22 nearest the upper end of the ladder section isaprop 33 which is adapted to have its free end engage a socket 34 formed in the outer face of the ironing board so as to sup port the said leg section in a substantially horizontal position so that the same may also serve for supporting clothes to be dried, when the structure is to be used as a clothes rack.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings the construction and advantages of the combined device or structure will be readily apparent and further description thereof is deemed unnecessary.

lV-hat is claimed is l. A combined device of the class described comprising a ladder section having spaced side rails containing elongated slots, arms hinged to said side rails and normally resting within the slots and adapted to be swung to a substantially horizontal position, an ironing board hinged to one end of the ladder section, legs carried by the ironing board and adapted to be swung around the ends of the ladder section to support the same in a horizontal position, and arms hinged to the front edges of the rail sections and adapted to be swung into a hori zontal position.

2. A device of the class described comprising an ironing board, a ladder section completely provided with steps hinged at one end to the ironing board, arms hinged to the sides and front of the ladder section and adapted to be swung to a horizontal position, hinged brace bars connected to the arm and to the ladder section to support the said arms in a horizontal position, legs connected to the ironing board at opposite ends thereof and adapted to be swung around the ends of the ladder section to hold the same and said board in a horizontal position, and a prop for one of said legs.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature, in presence of two Witnesses.

JOHN WATT. lVitnesses JOHN GENsLER, ALBERT EoKn. 

